Decentralized identity and the path to digital privacy

Security is the central challenge of the digital age. Our digital lives have moved into the cloud. People now use multiple devices to connect to multiple applications through many different networks. Just about everything is connected to the internet, where threats remain constant and evolving. I...

Consumers have few legal options for protecting privacy

There are no promises in the words, “We care about user privacy.” Yet, these words appear on privacy policy after privacy policy, serving as disingenuous banners to hide potentially invasive corporate practices, including clandestine data collection, sharing, and selling. This is no accident. It ...

Utah Just Became a Leader in Digital Privacy

Opinion: Utah legislators recently voted to pass landmark legislation in support of a new privacy law. Statehouses across the country should take notes...

A week in security (April 23 – April 29)

Last week, we dug into behavioral biometrics, explored a new crossrider variant, and embraced the power of "no." We also launched another CrackMe challenge, took a deep dive into smart toys, and finished up with a look at digital privacy in the age of IoT. Other news LinkedIn does battle with...

Passwords at the Border

The password-manager 1Password has just implemented a travel mode that tries to protect users while crossing borders. It doesn't make much sense. To enable it, you have to create a list of passwords you feel safe traveling with, and then you can turn on the mode that only gives you access to thos...

Printing and Marketing Firm Leaks High-Profile Customers' Data

Franchise Services, the parent company of a number of large print and design companies, said it is investigating claims that sensitive customer data stored by one of its franchisees is accessible online. The data dates back to 2010 and ranges from sensitive health records belonging to a former...

Apple, Google Faced All Writs Act Orders

The American Civil Liberties Union has dug up more proof that from the get-go the FBI’s attempt to crack open an iPhone used by the San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook was not just about the one phone. The ACLU found court documents and on Wednesday published an interactive map visualizing...

White House Creates Cyber Governance Unit Within OMB

With the framework explained for a number of government cybersecurity-related initiatives, now it’s time to talk money. The White House anted up strong in 2015 with proposals for a new data breach notification standard, as well as plans to facilitate information-sharing between the public and...

President Proposes National Breach Notification Standard

Lacking precious detail, President Obama today proposed a national data breach notification standard, legislation that would mandate breached companies notify affected consumers inside of 30 days. The national law would supersede the current collection of state laws that govern notification...

Google: Gmail Users Should Have No Expectation of Privacy

Edward Snowden has done enough to highlight how vulnerable electronic communications are to surveillance and Gmail users should not expect privacy from Google. Lavabit is no more. Silent Circle has shuttered its secure email service. A California watchdog group says that Gmail users now have a...

Digital privacy, Internet Surveillance and The PRISM - Enemies of the Internet

If you have followed the startling revelations about the scope of the US government's surveillance efforts, you may have thought you were reading about the end of privacy, and about the Enemies of the Internet. "My computer was arrested before I was." a perceptive comment by an internet activist...

Digital privacy, Internet Surveillance and The PRISM - Enemies of the Internet

If you have followed the startling revelations about the scope of the US government's surveillance efforts, you may have thought you were reading about the end of privacy, and about the Enemies of the Internet. “My computer was arrested before I was.” a perceptive comment by an internet activist...

EFF Says Cyber Security Bills Open Door To Government, Corporate Abuse

The Electronic Frontier Foundation EFF is sounding alarms about a collection of overly vague cyber-security bills making their way through Congress. EFF looked at two bills making their way through Congress: The Cybersecurity Act of 2012 S. 2105, sponsored by Senator Joseph Lieberman I-CT of...